NOT DONE YET: There’s a chance Tim Tebow could remain with the Jets when training camp begins, new general manager John Idzik said yesterday. (Paul J. Bereswill)
The Tim Tebow saga could drag all the way into training camp and Darrelle Revis’ recovery from knee surgery is ahead of schedule, new Jets general manager John Idzik told a group of fans yesterday.
Speaking on a conference call with season-ticket holders, Idzik and coach Rex Ryan kept it close to the vest on most of the topics raised in the 30-minute session.
But they were a little more forthcoming on Revis’ injury situation and Tebow’s future, with Idzik saying Revis is making better-than-expected progress in his recovery from a torn ACL while hinting Tebow is a bigger part of the team’s plans than many analysts think.
“By all accounts and by his doctor’s accounts, he’s doing very well,” Idzik said of Revis before Revis’ comments on “The Real Robinson Report yesterday on how much he’d love to play for the 49ers.. “By their estimation, he’s ahead of schedule.”
As for Tebow, Idzik indicated the backup quarterback, whose presence created a season-long sideshow last year, could be afforded the chance to impress the Jets’ new offensive coaches into training camp.
Despite that comment, it remains extremely unlikely Tebow will even make it to minicamp this spring in a Jets uniform.
League sources say the Jets are hoping to trade Tebow — a virtually impossible scenario — and will release him before June if a deal doesn’t happen, but Idzik tried to play it straight yesterday.
“Tim, as you know, is currently on our roster,” Idzik said. “What we’re doing is we’re trying to increase competition at [quarterback], so we’re going to let the competition play out. We’re going to see who we’re able to bring on board and let it play out this off-season and into training camp. So I think that’ll be healthy for all concerned, including Tim.”
Idzik and Ryan sidestepped repeated questions about their reported desire to trade Revis as a way to rebuild the team quicker and to avoid losing the All-Pro cornerback for essentially nothing in free agency next year.
“Darrelle is a very valued player on our team,” Idzik said. “Our focus is squarely on getting him healthy and getting him back to his level of play.”
Ryan did, however, stand by his comments at the NFL scouting combine last month that reports the Jets are shopping Revis are untrue.
“I will stand firm by saying there was no truth to that,” Ryan said. “One thing about me is I will tell you what I believe to be the truth. Sometimes it doesn’t work out that way, but it’s certainly not intentional. I made the comments that I made because that’s what I believe to be the truth.”
About the only thing either would be specific about was second-year linebacker Demario Davis, who Ryan said has replaced the departed Bart Scott at the weakside position and will be a prominent player in the Jets’ defensive schemes this fall.
Idzik, though, wouldn’t rule out a Scott return. The GM said the Jets have left the door open to re-signing players who were among their recent salary-cap casualties (a group that includes Scott, outside linebacker Calvin Pace and safety Eric Smith).
Ryan, meanwhile, stuck with his no-more-predictions pledge and only broke out some of his trademark hyperbole when asked if the Jets are still an attractive destination in light of their mountain of recent embarrassing controversies.
“I still think you’d be surprised to find out how many guys really do want to come here,” Ryan said. “The New York Jets are a team that many players want to play for — if not all. That is kind of my feeling on it.”